Why India needs to help bridge the international 'space divide'
Just the way a digital divide exists, the world is also witnessing a "space divide". Simply put, space divide refers to inequitable access to space technology and its applications. The issue was flagged off at the recently organised meetings by the United Nations to mark 50 years of international space cooperation initiated in 1968.
There is growing realisation that space technology will be a key input for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. For this, all nations need to have access to space technology.
The UN Space pledged to increase the use of the benefits offered by outer space for realising SDGs and urged all member countries to promote access to scientific, technological, economic, social and environmental benefits of space through international cooperation.
In a sense, it was a déjà vu moment for India in Vienna where the UN space meeting took place, because the very genesis of the Indian space programme lies in both national development and international cooperation.
The need for bridging the "space divide" is being felt in many developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. While data and technology are becoming more accessible and affordable, the gap between countries with well-developed capabilities and those which do not possess such capabilities or have access to space technology is increasing. Space accessibility is not just about physical access to outer space but also means access to space-related infrastructure, data, information and services.
That’s why the "Access to space" initiative of the UN’s Office for Outer Space Affairs seeks to bridge the space divide with various initiatives to enable developing countries to develop the capacity to launch, ground and in-orbit space experiments and low-orbit free flying vehicles, design, manufacture and operation of small satellites. In addition, "Space2030" agenda has been prepared to support developing countries in attaining SDGs by optimum use of existing space assets and infrastructure.
Positioned on the right side of the space divide, India can play a key role in bridging the divide by leveraging both its space assets as well as technological capability developed in the past three decades.
The Indian Space Research Organisation will have to boost its space diplomacy and commercial space activity aggressively. It should also lead and contribute actively to the development of an indigenous aerospace industry and private space companies. Such combined effort can potentially make India a leader in making space affordable.
Even before the formation of ISRO, India’s efforts in space had an international flavour. The Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS), where the space programme was seeded in 1962, was declared a UN facility in 1968 and attracted space scientists from several countries.
The very first space project was for using satellite technology for development communication was executed with an American satellite. The first India-built satellite was launched onboard a Soviet rocket. The first set of Indian space engineers were trained at NASA.
Half a century later, it is time for ISRO to pay back by helping developing countries harness the fruits of space technology.
(Courtesy of Mail Today)